Hebei Airlines Receives First E-Jets

Chinese carrier Hebei Airlines has taken delivery of the first of up to ten Embraer E-Jets that it is seeking to introduce into its fleet to develop regional services in the Hebei Province. The airline accepted delivery of two E190s on December 20 and is in discussions to add eight more aircraft, subject to final approval from the Chinese Government.

“We are glad to take delivery of our first two E190s. The introduction of these jets during the Chinese 12th-five-year period (2011-2015) matches the company’s marketing strategy, and is one of our important initiatives in response to the State’s call to build China as a civil aviation powerhouse by improving the country’s regional aviation sector,” said Luo Zhanling, Vice Chairman, Hebei Airlines. “We will fully leverage the jets’ advantages in seat capacity and range performance to build a hub network. We hope that the two parties can work together to make our respective contributions to local civil aviation development and to promote economic and cultural exchange.”

The aircraft will be based at Shijiazhuang, the capital city of the Hebei Province, and will mainly be used to establish a regional hub in the province, while also flying from Shijiazhuang to other provincial capitals, enhancing connectivity with more routes and frequencies.

Formerly known as China Northeast Airlines, Hebei Airlines was established in June 2012 and currently operates a small fleet of Next-Generation Boeing 737 variants and Embraer ERJ-145s. It currently offers more than 200 weekly flights flights serving 18 domestic destinations.